Assessment of urban identity characteristics in public places: A case

ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 1 • March 2015 • 115-125
Assessment of urban identity
characteristics in public places: A
case study of Ortaköy Square
B a ş a k D am l a E R D O Ğ A N 1 , Hati c e AYATAÇ 2
1
[email protected] • Graduate School of Science, Engineering and
Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
2
[email protected] • Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of
Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
Received: November 2012
Final Acceptance: December 2013
Abstract
The city square is the best interaction point between various inhabitants and
the city. It is the place where urban identity is well grasped. This study aimed to
understand if it is important to have urban identity characteristics to be a successful public place, or not. Therefore, urban identity and public place terms analyzed
in the notion of identity and the notion of place. The significance of the city square
emerged as a connection between urban identity and public place. To clarify the
importance of the urban identity characteristics in successful public places, Ortaköy Square is chosen for the case study. The study area is a public place that the
richness of urban identity characteristics was defined in the researches before. In
this study the relationship between urban identity, public place and citizens was
explained by using the methods which are literature research and photo-analysis.
According to these analysis, it is proved that Ortaköy Square is a successful public
place. Binding on the studies before, urban identity characteristics were pointed
out. Ortaköy Square has all the components to reflect urban identity. It is cleared
that urban identity is a necessity to be a successful public place and it exists especially in city squares.
Keywords
Urban design, Urban identity, City square, Ortaköy Square, Public place.
116
1. Introduction
Cities take place in minds with their
urban image and identity features.
These characteristic facts are focused
in the city squares, which are public
sharing arenas and attracting the attention. Hereby, users are faced with the
elements which reflect the character of
city and urban identity and feel these
features while they are experiencing the
city square. The city square- the arena
of the public memorial events- which
has clear defining characteristics, understandable elements, historical background and which is used actively, can
make people feel the explicit urban
identity (Erdoğan, 2011).
In this study, which urban identity
characteristics a successful city square
should have, were determined. When
understanding the importance of the
urban identity characteristics and why
a successful square is needed as a case
study area, from general to specific, it
was needed to understand the two major concepts of urban design; place and
identity.
Places are physical things, with
some degree of permanency and constancy of sensory impact. Their form,
their content, and the organization of
their parts both create and set limits to
the functions they fill. Thus, the study
of places is also the study of people,
their needs and their life-styles, insofar
as all human action occurs in one place
or another (Press and Smith, 1980).
Identity is found both in the individual person or object and in the culture
to which they belong. It is not static
and unchangeable, but varies as circumstances and attitudes change; and
it is not uniform and undifferentiated,
but has several components and forms
(Relph, 1976).
These two interpretive definitions
show that identity is the key to relate
people and the place. To become a significant place either an empty space,
the place needed to be attached by
some people. The historical, physical,
socio-economic or cultural elements
combine an essence for a place. The
essence of a place or the meaning is
the identity of a place. It’s how people
remember the place. Also, the identity
of the individuals or groups in a place,
create an ambience and give an identi-
ty to a place, too. Identity is a complex
concept which provides people both
to understand the difference between
places, individuals, groups and the
similarity between people who share
the same place, features or cultural
background.
On the other hand, the city has its
own identity. The uniqueness of a city
is the urban identity. The urban identity has various elements which diffused
in city and its inhabitants.
Place, identity and inhabitants are
three major components of urban life.
To perceive a place, inhabitants seek
for some elements there, which make
them feel “in” that place. Additionally,
people have an instinct to attach somewhere.
The city square is the center of the
city which outlines all the details of
the city and the inhabitants. It is like a
demo – a smaller copy of the city, which
enables people to experience the whole
urban characteristics of that city. City
squares give brief information about
the city, because they are the significant
places which reflect urban identity.
If the square has a significant identity, it also gives us the clues of urban identity of the city which it is in.
City and urban identity feed the city
squares, and city squares help users to
understand the city and urban identity.
It is a feedback system that both sides
benefit from each other (Erdoğan,
2011).
2. Why defining urban identity characteristics?
This study aims to establish the
weight of urban identity for being a
successful city square, fundamentally.
Urban identity characteristics are the
defining elements of a city square. This
study investigates how urban identity
characteristics reflected on city squares
and what is the interaction between
city, city square and urban identity.
While analyzing this interaction, individuals’ perceptions, observations and
activities should be guides to reach the
right answers. This study significantly uses the former surveys, researches and literature about the case study
area, reveals the common points and
responds several questions.
This study intent to explain the fea-
ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 1 • March 2015 • B.D. Erdoğan, H. Ayataç
117
tures to create a successful city square
and to analyze urban identity features.
At last the interaction of these two is
determined.
The hypothesis is;
Physical, cultural, historical and socio-economical features are the facts to
understand the effectiveness of a public
place design. The variety of activities
and users compose a remarkable public
place which exhibit the urban identity.
And the square is the most significant
public place of the city. Therefore, it is
the best place to define and understand
the urban identity (Erdoğan, 2011).
The significance of the study is to
define the features of good public places and urban identity. Afterwards, the
interaction of these features will be revealed and it will be shown that urban
identity is the most important feature
for being a good square-a good public
place- (Erdoğan, 2011).
This study is materialized in the
boundaries of the assessment of the
perception of urban identity and urban
identity characteristics in
Ortaköy Square, in pursuit of general scanning in context of square-identity-user relationship (Erdoğan, 2011).
3. Determining urban identity characteristics
Urban identity is a notion which
is not physical but can be related to
physical, cultural, socio-economic and
historical features of the city. To understand the impact area of the urban
identity, it is needed to grasp the roots
in literature. In this study, urban identity is deeply researched in light of the
earlier studies which are about the notion of identity. Hence urban identity
concerns the place and individuals; the
notion of place is defined. From general to specific, urban identity and city
square terms cleared by help of literature.
In this study former researches
about Ortaköy Square were analyzed
and the common points of these researches used as data about the case
study area (For further information
about the researches please see the
references [Kara, 1995], [Güler, 2004],
[Erel, 2007], [Aygün, 2009], [Mumcu,
2009], [İnceoğlu, 2007]). In all these
researches and especially deeply in
Inceoğlu’s (2007), it was shown that
Ortaköy Square is the most significant
city square of Istanbul. According to
the features in these studies, Ortaköy
Square was chosen as the case study
area to understand the characteristics of
urban identity.Additionally, this study
investigates the approaches to evaluate
urban squares and the importance of
identity in successful ones. Therefore,
the former perspectives of different researchers and research groups were analysed and the “ten principles for successful squares by PPS” is chosen for
discussing the success of the case study
area (See (White, 1999), (Gatje, 2010),
(Janicijevic, 2010), Urban Design London (UDL, 2010), (PPS, 2010) for these
approaches).
PPS present a deep and comprehensive approach to create and sustain
public places. Project for Public Spaces
(PPS) is a nonprofit planning, design
and educational organization which
was founded in 1975 to expand on the
work of William (Holly) Whyte, the
author of The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. They are working on parks,
transportation, markets, downtowns,
civic centers, multi-use, campuses,
waterfronts and squares all over the
world. The following diagram shows
which features are examined by PPS,
when they evaluating a place. These
features are used for all places that PPS
works on (Erdoğan, 2011).
Later on, this study used photo-analysis, observations and data collection
methods to confirm the hyphothesis
which was mentioned above. In short,
Table 1 presents the route of the study.
Table 1. The methodology of the study (Erdoğan, 2011).
Method
Practice
Consideration
Literature
Searching the literature
Analysis of the data
Case study
Photo-Analysis
Observation
Data collection
Analysis
and
hypothesis
confirmation
Assessment of urban identity characteristics in public places: A case study of Ortaköy Square
of
118
4. Assessment of principles for successful squares and urban identity characteristics in Ortaköy
Square
The case study area, Ortaköy Square
is located in Ortaköy District of Beşiktaş, Istanbul. The center of Beşiktaş is
the important transportation hub of Istanbul, where sea traffic and car traffic
intersect. Ortaköy Square is 20 minutes
walking distance away from Beşiktaş.
Ortaköy Square is located near the
Beşiktaş-Sarıyer Road, and it is close
to the Bosporus Bridge where Asia and
Europe are linked (Erdoğan, 2011).
In history, Ortaköy has been a settlement since antiquity but became more
significant in Byzantine Period. A
church built near the Ortaköy Square
and the place became a popular point.
In Ottoman Period the popularity of
the place existed and increased by builing a Mosque. It has been organically developed an interaction point and
lately as a square. Hence, the historical
pattern of the place is protected till
today; it’s a favorable place for inhabitants.
Ortaköy Square is listed as “60 Great
Places of The World” for PPS. That is
why it is chosen as a case study area to
define urban identity characteristics.
In the following, the existence of the
ten principles for successful squares by
PPS will be proved for Ortaköy Square
by help of photo-analysis, observations,
data collection and earlier researches.
4.1. Image and identity
Historically, squares were the center
of communities, and they traditionally helped shape the identity of entire
cities. Sometimes a fountain was used
to give the square a strong image (PPS,
2010). The following photographs in
Figure 1 shows the image and identity
items in the square.
4.2. Attractions and destinations
Any great square has a variety of
smaller “places” within it to appeal to
various people (PPS, 2010).
Figure 3 and Figure 4 show divergent attraction points, functions and
destinations in Ortaköy Square which
serve variant needs.
4.3. Amenities
A square should feature amenities
that make it comfortable for people to
Figure 1. Ortaköy Mosque and Damat İbrahim Paşa Fountain
(Erdoğan, 2011).
Figure 2. Ortaköy Port, Ayios Fokas Church and Bosphorus view from the square (Erdoğan,
2011).
ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 1 • March 2015 • B.D. Erdoğan, H. Ayataç
119
use (PPS, 2010).
As it is shown in the following figures (Figure 5), Ortaköy square provides clean environment, enough waste
receptacles, benches and good lighting
equipments for its users.
4.4. Flexible design
The use of a square changes during
the course of the day, week, and year
(PPS, 2010).
Saturdays, Ortaköy Square becomes
a bazaar where different ornaments,
jewelry and etc. are sold. There is a permanent roofing system which is shown
in Figure 6, and under it, a temporary
market place is created in Saturdays.
4.5. Seasonal strategy
A successful square can’t flourish
with just one design or management
strategy (PPS, 2010).
In Ortaköy square, different solutions exist to use the place even in win-
Figure 3. Temporary bazaar, waffle & baked potato sellers, secondhand booksellers and the
playground (Erdoğan, 2011).
Figure 4. Touristic bosporus tour port, the elevated ground, children are feeding birds and
people are sitting on benches and enjoying the view (Erdoğan, 2011).
Assessment of urban identity characteristics in public places: A case study of Ortaköy Square
120
4.6. Access
To be successful, a square needs to
be easy to get to (PPS, 2010). Ortaköy
Square is a focus point and a node of
the city. It is close to the other nodes.
It is accessible and pedestrian-friendly
place but close to major traffic zones.
That is shown in Figure 8.
4.8. Reaching out like an octopus
Just as important as the edge of a
square is the ways that streets, sidewalks and ground floors of adjacent
buildings lead into it (PPS, 2010).
Ortaköy Square is a welcoming place
by the Bosphorus view and attractive
shops in the entrance (Figure 10). The
traffic flow slows down at the entrance
of the square; this is another feature to
be a welcoming place.
4.7. The inner and outer square
The streets and sidewalks around
a square greatly affect its accessibility
and use, as do the buildings that surround it. An active, welcoming outer
square is essential to the well-being of
the inner square (PPS, 2010). Ortaköy
Square is a welcoming place with the
small cafes and shops (Figure 9). At
first, on the streets that open to the
square, little shops and stands welcome
the pedestrians and lead them to the
square. At the square, little cafés, Ortaköy Mosque and the Bosporus view
meet with users and welcome them
(Erdoğan, 2011).
4.9. The central role of management
The best places are ones that people
return to time and time again. The only
way to achieve this is through a management plan that understands and
promotes ways of keeping the square
safe and lively (PPS, 2010).
Ortaköy Square has always considered important for local government
and municipalities. Since it has been a
significant public place at all times, the
historical buildings and pattern of the
place is preserved, the pavements and
façades renovated and the managers
try to sustain its inviting features. See
Figure 11 to observe the restorations.
ter time (Figure 7). It is a popular place
in every season.
4.10. Diverse funding sources
A well-managed square is generally
beyond the scope of the average city
parks or public works department,
which is why partnerships have been
established to operate most of the
best squares in the United States (PPS,
2010).
Funding sources are not working
Figure 5. Sample of several benches on the
square, people alternatively sits on elevated
ground (Erdoğan, 2011).
Figure 6. View of the bazaar on Saturday
and view of the bazaar at night in weekdays
(Erdoğan, 2011).
ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 1 • March 2015 • B.D. Erdoğan, H. Ayataç
121
Figure 8. Important routes surrounding the
square (Erdoğan, 2011).
Figure 7. Both indoor and outdoor usage,
Outdoor cafés are crowded even it is winter
and adjustable shading elements due to the
weather (Erdoğan, 2011).
Figure 10. A street which is opening to the
square and has the Bosporus view at the end
of it and Another welcoming street which
attracts people by food shops (Erdoğan,
2011).
Figure 9. Little cafés on the outer square (Erdoğan, 2011).
in Turkey as proper as in USA, but In
Ortaköy, Ortaköy to Beautify and Fisherman Protection Association aims to
organize meetings and conferences to
improve their town and community, to
contact with local and international organizations and associations, either to
organize activities about fishing. They
support other social organizations’
activities in Ortaköy, too (Erdoğan,
2011).
5. Conclusion
By determining the Ortaköy Square
depicting PPS’s ten of ten principles,
this study proves that Ortaköy Square
is a successful puclic place.
Figure 11. Good-looking façades are the
result of the restoration (Erdoğan, 2011).
Being related to urban identity is a
key to be a successful public place.
The 10 principles are used as a summary to realize and identify the features of the place. And considering all
these features related to the successful
public places and urban identity; it is
found that Ortaköy Square is a successful public place which reflects urban
identity (Erdoğan, 2011).
Assessment of urban identity characteristics in public places: A case study of Ortaköy Square
122
To understand the powerful urban
identity in Ortaköy Square, which
characteristics of urban identity exist
in the square will be discussed. Urban
identity characteristics were defined by
several researchers before. The common points of them were analysed and
Table 2 occurred as a conclusion.
This study found that the urban
identity characteristics in Ortaköy
Square which are the same features
that make this place successful.
It is revealed that visiting “the city
square” is not a daily routine for all
Turkish citizens. The squares are usually used for ceremonies, meetings,
politic activities, just passing by etc.
They are not well designed and seem
half-baked. The functional diversity
was not important when designing the
city squares. That is why they aren’t
used for shopping, sitting, entertaining
etc. as much as European countries. In
fact, Ortaköy Square stands out binding on the historical development process. It was developed organically as a
square and inhabitants always interacted there. This organic structure, natural advantages like Bosphorus view,
flat area, climate etc. made the place
more popular. The diversity of visitors
and inhabitants gave an ambiance to
the place. Also, Ortaköy Square has
three religions’ prayer places, handi-
craft stands, accessible and walkable
area, touristic attractions, and wide
food&beverage opportunities for everyone from different economic backgrounds etc. It has facilities to serve all
citizens and tourists (Erdoğan, 2011).
At last, this study proved that Ortaköy Square is a successful public
place, which has strong identity elements and urban identity characteristics. Ortaköy Square tallies with urban
identity well, this is the most important
key to be a successful public place.
References
Erdoğan, B. D. (2011). Assessment
of urban identity characteristics in
public places: A case study of Ortaköy
Square, Master Thesis, ITU Institute of
Science and Technology, İstanbul.
Erel, B. (2007). Kentsel Açık Alan
Kavramı Bağlamında İskele Meydanlarının İncelenmesi, İstanbul Örneği,
Master Thesis, YTU, Istanbul.
Aygün, A. (2009). Kamusal Alan
Olarak Meydanlar: Mekan ve Yaşamla
Kurduğu İlişki, Master Thesis. YTU,
Istanbul.
Gatje, R. (2010). Great Public
Squares: An Architect’s Selection, New
York.
Güler, Ö. (2004). Tarihi Çevrelerde Çağdaş Bina Tasarımı: Ortaköy
ve Yakın Çevresinde Yeni Bina Uygu-
Table 2. Urban identity characteristics.
Access
Number of Bus
stops: 3
Number of Bus
lines: 6
Sea lines: 2
Physical &
Aesthetical
Values
Bosporus View
Historical
Components
(see column 3)
Colorful
Façades
Interesting
Objects at
Bazaar
Topography &
Geography
Location
Near the Bosporus
Close to main car traffic
Flat area
lines
Near the sea
Accessible by walking
Mild Climate
Car Free Area
Historical Values
Büyük Mecidiye Mosque
Damat İbrahim Paşa
Fountain
Ayios Fokas Church
Etz-Ha Hayim Synagogue
Port
Economical Structure
Public &
Cultural
Structure
Diverse Economical
backgrounds
Diverse functions for
different economical
backgrounds
Resting
Meeting
Vista
Diverse user types
Food&Beverage
Touristic
Shopping
Importance
Transportation
Historical Values
Entertainment
Cultural Activities
Playground
Worship
Celebration
Functional Diversity
ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 1 • March 2015 • B.D. Erdoğan, H. Ayataç
123
lamalarının Değerlendirilmesi, Master
Thesis, ITU, Istanbul.
İnceoğlu, M. (2007). Kentsel Açık
Mekânların Kalite Açısından Değerlendirilmesine Yönelik Bir Yaklaşım:
İstanbul Meydanlarının İncelenmesi,
PhD Dissertations, YTU, İstanbul.
Janicijevic, A. (2010). Retrieved
from http://www.urbansquares.com/
Kara, G. (1995). Boğaziçi Iskele
Meydanlarının Mekansal Fonksiyonel
Ve Kültürel Özelliklerinin Incelenmesi: Ortaköy Meydanındaki Düzenleme
Çalışmalarının
Değerlendirilmesi,
Master Thesis, ITU, Istanbul.
Mumcu, S. (2009). Dünden Bugüne
Değişen Konut Alanlarına Kültürel
Çeşitliliğin Etkileri, Ortaköy Meydan
ve Çevre Yerleşim Örneği, Master Thesis, Trakya University, Edirne.
Press, I., and Smith, M. E. (1980).
Urban Place and Process, Reading In
the Anthropology of Cities, Macmillan, New York.
PPS. (2010). Project for Public Places. Retrieved from www.pps.org
Relph, E. (1976). Place and Placelessness, Pion, London.
UDL. (2010). Urban Design London. Retrieved from http://www.urbandesignlondon.com/
White, E. T. (1999). Path. Portal.
Place. Appreciating Public Space In
Urban Environments, USA.
Kentsel mekan olarak meydanlarda,
kent kimliği karakteristiklerinin irdelenmesi: Ortaköy Meydanı örneği
Şehirler kentsel imge ve kimlik özellikleriyle akıllarda yer eder. Bu karakteristik özellikler, tüm dikkati üzerinde
toplayan ve kentin paylaşım platformu
olan kent meydanlarında yoğunlaşır.
Kent meydanları, kullanıcıların kenti
ve kent kimliğini yansıtan bir takım
unsurları gözlemlediği kentsel mekanlardır. Kent meydanı, toplumsal olaylara ev sahipliği yapan, etrafında alanı
tanımlayıcı öğeler bulunan, tarihi bir
öneme sahip olan ve sıklıkla ziyaret
edilen alanlardır. Bu özellikleri sayesinde de kent kimliğini etkin bir şekilde hissettirir (Erdoğan, 2011).
Genelden özele inecek olursak; kent
kimliği kavramını anlatan iki temel
kavram mekan ve kimliktir.
Mekan, devamlılık, istikrar ve duyumsal etkilere sahip fiziksel bir oluşumdur. Mekanın formu, içeriği ve
organizasyonu hem o mekanın fonksiyonlarını yaratır hem de sınırlar. Bu
nedenle, mekanla ilgili çalışmalar aynı
zamanda insanla ilgili çalışmalardır;
insanların ihtiyaçları, yaşam şekilleri,
en nihayetinde tüm insan hareketleri
bir yada başka bir mekanda ortaya çıkar (Press and Smith, 1980).
Kimlik, bireylerde, objelerde veya
bunların ait olduğu kültürlerde bulunur. Sabit ve değişmez sınırları yoktur.
Yanısıra, durum ve koşullara gore çeşitlenir. Bunun yanında, tek tip ve farklılaşamayan bir unsur değildir; aksine
çok çeşitli içerik ve formlarda buluna-
bilir (Relph, 1976).
Bu iki tanıma göre, kimliğin mekan
ve kişileri bir araya getiren bir konumda olduğu görülmektedir. Bir boşluktan öte, farkedilir bir mekan olabilmek
için, mekanın ihtiyacı olan, o mekana
aidiyet hisseden insanlardır. Tarihi,
fiziksel, sosyo-ekonomik ve kültürel
elemanlar, bir mekanın ruhunu oluşturan etmenlerdir. Mekanın ruhu ya da
anlamı aslında o mekanın kimliğidir;
kişilerin o mekanı nasıl hatırladığıdır. Ayrıca, bir mekanda bulunan kişi
yada gruplar da bir ambiyans yaratır
ve mekana bir kimlik verirler. Kimlik;
kişilerin mekanlar, bireyler ve gruplar arasındaki farklılıkları anlamasını
sağlarken, bir yandan da aynı mekanı,
özellikleri yada kültürel birikimi paylaşan insanların arasındaki benzerlikleri
öne çıkaran karmaşık bir yapıdır.
Öte yandan, kent de kendine ait bir
kimliğe sahiptir. Kentin kendine özgü
olma durumu, o kentin kimliğidir.
Kent kimliği kentin her noktasına ve o
kentte yaşayanlara sinen bir koku gibidir.
Mekan, kimlik ve kişiler kent yaşamının üç temel bileşenidir. Bir mekanı
algılarken, kişiler kendilerini o mekanda hissettirebilecek bir takım unsurları
ararlar. Zaten, insanların bir mekana
ait olma dürtüsüne sahip oldukları da
söylenebilir.
Kentin merkezi olan kent meydanları, kent ve kentlilere ait tüm detayların
altını çizen mekanlardır. Meydan mekanı adeta bir demo, şehrin küçük bir
kopyası gibi, şehrin tüm karakteristik-
Assessment of urban identity characteristics in public places: A case study of Ortaköy Square
124
lerini yansıtan alanlardır. Kent meydanı, kent kimliğini yansıtma özelliğine
sahip bir nokta olduğu için, kenti özetleyen bilgileri bir anda kişilere sunar,
denilebilir.
Bu çalışmada, esas olarak amaçlanan, bir meydanın başarılı olmasında kent kimliği unsurunun ne derece önemli olduğunu gözlemlemektir.
Kent kimliğini oluşturan özellikler aynı
zamanda kent meydanını tanımlayan
etmenlerdir. Bu çalışma, kent kimliği
karakteristiklerinin meydanlarda nasıl
yansıtıldığını ve kent – meydan –kent
kimliği ilişkisini ele alır. Bu ilişkiyi incelerken, kişilerin bu alana dair algısı, gözlemleri ve hareketleri rehberlik
eden en önemli unsurlardır. Bu sebeple, yapılan bu çalışma, daha önceden
yapılmış araştırma, anket ve literatürü
kullanır. Bu enstrümanların ortak noktalarını ortaya çıkarır ve böylelikle alan
ile ilgili bir çok soruya cevap olur.
Çalışma şu hipotez üzerine kurulmuştur;
Fiziksel, kültürel, tarihsel ve sosyo-ekonomik özellikler, etkili bir kentsel mekan tasarımı kavramada önemli
olan unsurlardır. Alanda fonksiyon,
aktivite ve kullanıcıların çeşitliliği,
farkedilir bir kentsel mekan yaratır ve
kent kimliğini yansıtır. Kent meydanı
ise kentin en belirgin kamusal mekanıdır. Bu sebeple, kent meydanı kent
kimliğinin tanımlandığı ve anlaşıldığı
en dikkat çekici noktadır.
Çalışmanın önemi ise şöyledir; kaliteli bir kentsel mekanı ve kent kimliğini oluşturan etmenleri tanımlanarak;
bunun ardından, etmenler arasındaki
kesişmeler ortaya konulacak ve kent
kimliğinin, kent meydanının başarısında en önemli rolü oynadığı ispatlanacaktır.
Kent kimliği fiziksel olmayan ancak
kentin fiziksel, kültürel, sosyo-ekonomik ve tarihsel özellikleriyle ilişkili
olarak ortaya çıkan bir kavramdır. Kent
kimliğinin etki alanını anlamak için,
temel kavramlar literatüre dayanarak
irdelenmiş, kimlik ve mekan ana başlıkları altında genelden özele gidilerek
anlatılmıştır.
Bu çalışmada, daha önceden alana
ait araştırmalar analiz edilerek, bunların ortak noktaları, alan çalışması için
birer veri olarak kullanılmış; Ortaköy
Meydanı’nın İstanbul’daki en belirgin
meydan olduğu görülmüştür.
Ek olarak, bu çalışma kent meydanlarının başarısını ölçme yöntemlerini
ve kimliğin başarılı olan meydanlardaki önemini araştırır. Bu sebeple, farklı araştırmacılara ait yöntem ve bakış
açıları irdelenmiş ve Project for Public
Spaces’e ait “başarılı bir meydan olmak
için 10 kriter”, çalışma alanının başarısını ölçme yöntemi olarak seçilmiştir.
PPS, kentsel mekan yaratma ve devamlılığını sağlamak için derin ve
kapsamlı bir yöntem ortaya koyar.
“Kamusal Alanlar İçin Projeler” olarak
çevirebileceğimiz “Project for Public
Spaces”, 1975’te, kurulmuş, kar amacı
gütmeyen bir planlama, tasarım ve eğitim kurumudur (PPS, 2010).
Devamında, bu çalışma, foto analiz, gözlem ve veri toplama metotlarını
kullanarak yukarıda belirtilen hipotezi
kanıtlamaktadır.
Ortaköy Meydanı, PPS’nin “Dünyanın En Etkili 60 Mekanı” listesinde yer
almaktadır ve bu özelliği sebebiyle kent
kimliği karakteristiklerini inceleyen bu
çalışmaya konu olarak seçilmiştir.
Kent kimliği ile ilişkili olma başarılı
bir kentsel mekan olmanın anahtarıdır.
İrdelenen 10 kriter mekanın özelliklerini anlama ve belirleme için pratik bir
yöntem olarak kullanılmıştır. Başarılı
kentsel mekanlara ve kent kimliğine
dair tüm bu özellikler değerlendirildiğinde, Ortaköy Meydanı’nın kent
kimliğini yansıtan başarılı bir meydan
olduğu ortaya konulmuştur (Erdoğan,
2011).
Ortaköy Meydanı’nda güçlü bir şekilde hissedilen kent kimliğinin hangi özelliklere bağlı olduğunu anlamak
üzere, kent kimliği karakteristiklerine
ait önceden yapılmış çalışmalar irdelenmiş, ortak noktaları ortaya konulmuştur.
Bu çalışma, Ortaköy Meydanı’nda
bulunan kent kimliği karakteristiklerinin, onu başarılı kılan özellikleriyle
aynı olduğunu tespit etmiştir.
Türkiye’de “kent meydanı” kavramı
ve meydanı kullanma, günlük bir eylem değildir. Meydan mekanları genellikle, tören, gösteri, miting veya sadece
geçip gitmek için kullanılmaktadır. Bu
meydanlar genellikle iyi tasarlanmamış
ve tamamlanmamış görünürler. Fonksiyonel çeşitlilik meydan tasarımında
hiçbir zaman rol oynamamıştır. Bu se-
ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 1 • March 2015 • B.D. Erdoğan, H. Ayataç
125
beple de meydan mekanları Avrupa’daki gibi alışveriş, oturma, eğlence ve
benzeri şekillerde genellikle kullanılmaz. Buna tarihi sürece rağmen, Ortaköy Meydanı, genelden farklı olarak
doğal bir biçimde meydan olarak şekillenmiş ve kullanıcılar her daim oraya
yönelmiştir. Alanın bu organik dokusu,
Boğaz manzarası, engebesiz/düz yapıda oluşu, yumuşak iklimi ve benzeri
özellikleri, burayı daha popüler bir mekan haline getirmiştir. Ayrıca, üç dinin
mabetlerine ev sahipliği yapması, el
sanatları tezgahları, ulaşılabilir ve yürünebilir oluşu, turistik çekiciliğe sahip
olması, geniş yeme-içme imkanlarını
barındırması, Ortaköy Meydanı’nın
diğer özellikleridir. Her türlü merak ve
imkana sahip turist ve kentlilere hitap
eden imkanlar sağlar (Erdoğan, 2011).
Çalışmanın sonunda, Ortaköy Meydanı’nın güçlü kimlik unsurlarına
sahip başarılı bir meydan olduğu kanıtlanmıştır. Ortaköy Meydanı, kent
kimliği ile iyi bir uyum sergilediği için,
başarılı bir kentsel mekan olabilmiştir.
Assessment of urban identity characteristics in public places: A case study of Ortaköy Square